Hive Thermostat for Heating with Nano 3 Hub

In-Depth Look

This version of the Hive thermostat comes with the Nano 3 Hub. The hub is a fraction of the size of earlier Hive hubs and connects to your router with an Ethernet cable. The thermostat talks to the hub by Zigbee, a low-power wireless link, rather than over your Wi-Fi.

OpenTherm

OpenTherm compatibility means that, with a compatible boiler, the thermostat can tell the boiler how much heat is needed rather than only switching it fully on or off. The boiler can then modulate its output to suit. Check that your boiler supports OpenTherm before relying on this.

Geolocation and Smart Features

The geolocation feature uses your phone’s location to detect when you have left home and when you are returning, and can lower the heating when you are out. Some geolocation features sit in Hive’s paid Heating Plus plan, so check Hive’s site for what each plan includes. Scheduling is set through the app, and you can set different temperatures for different times of day across each day of the week.

Summary

The Hive Thermostat with Nano 3 Hub offers app control, schedules, geolocation and OpenTherm support with a smaller hub than older Hive models. Use Hive’s compatibility checker to choose the right kit for your boiler and hot water set-up before buying.

How It Compares

The Hive thermostat kit with the Nano 3 hub contains the thermostat, a receiver, the Nano 3 hub, an Ethernet cable, a USB power lead and plug, wall plugs and 4 AAA batteries, according to the EE and DIY.com listings. The hub connects to your router with the Ethernet cable, and the thermostat and hub talk to each other by Zigbee, a low-power wireless link, rather than Wi-Fi. The receiver is wired to the boiler. Hive supports OpenTherm, which lets a compatible combi boiler receive a temperature demand rather than only an on or off signal.

The table sets this kit beside other ways of controlling heating.

If you want to compare other kits on this site, see the Hive Active Heating thermostat and the Drayton Wiser multi-zone smart thermostat kit. For radiator-level control, see the Drayton TRV4 thermostatic radiator valve.

Some features, such as geolocation notifications and insights, sit in Hive’s paid Heating Plus plan. Check Hive’s site for what each plan includes.

Common Questions

Does Hive work with my boiler? Use Hive’s compatibility checker on its website, and have your boiler type to hand. Combi, system and conventional boilers are wired differently, and the kit you need depends on which you have. If the boiler supports OpenTherm, a compatible combi can receive a temperature demand rather than only an on or off signal.

Why does the hub need to plug into the router? The hub connects to the router by Ethernet, which links the system to the internet and the app. The thermostat does not use your Wi-Fi. It talks to the hub by Zigbee, so the hub needs to be within range of the thermostat.

Do I need a hot water cylinder control version? It depends on your system. Retailer guidance says heating-only kits suit boilers with no hot water cylinder control, while boilers with a cylinder need heating plus hot water models. Check the listing, because both heating-only and heating-plus-hot-water kits exist.

Can I fit it myself? Fitting involves isolating the power and wiring the receiver to the boiler. Where you are not competent to do this, use a heating engineer. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use a competent person where required.

Which features need the paid plan? Hive describes some features, such as geolocation notifications and insights, as part of its Heating Plus plan. Check Hive’s site for the current list, as plans can change.